Cinematographic apparatus



p 1935 c. R. HANNA 2,Q15,637

CINEMATOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Original Filed April 4, 1930 INVENTOR (mm/2 25M.

ATTORN Y Patented Sept. 24, 1935 CINEMATOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Clinton RHHanna, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric 86 Manufacturing Company, a'corporation of Pennsylvania Original application April 4, 1930, Serial No.

Divided and this application January s, 1933, Serial No. 650,408

2 Claims. (Cl. 88-17) graphic machine of a type that shall cause the film projected to present a smooth and uniform surface to the optical projection apparatus.

Another object of my invention is to provide film-supporting and film-tensioning apparatus for a motion picture projection system of a type in which the mm is curved in the region in which it cooperateswith the elements of the optical projection apparatus;

A further object of my invention is to provide a film-tensioning device for a motion picture projection system of the type incorporating a curved film supporting surface.

More concisely stated it is an object of my invention to provide a mechanically simple and inexpensive picture gate for a motion picture projection system that shall so cooperate with the film as to cause it to present a uniform surface to the optical projection apparatus and that shall at the same time have no deleterious wearing effect on the film.

According to my invention, I provide a film gate incorporating a film-supporting surface, commonly designated as an aperture plate, having a predetermined curvature. I further provide a plurality of tensioned shoe-straps to cooperate with the aperture plate and to resiliently position the film on surface thereof. The film is advanced through the gate by a plurality of filmadvancing claws that project through the aperture plate and engage the film and the shoestraps are properly constructed to accommodate the claws.

The novel features that I consider characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment, when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of a section of a machine wherein my improvement is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a view, in side elevation, of the improved film-gate embodied in the machine;

Fig. 3 is a view, in side elevation, showing a device whereby the shoe-supporting bracket is moved; 5

Fig. 4 is a view, in side elevation, showing the, gate in open position; and

Fig. 5 is a view, in perspective, showing the shoe-straps and the shoe-strap support embodied in the film gate. 10 The apparatus shown in the drawing comprises a curved aperture plate supported on the main plate 2 of a cinematographic machine, on which a film-strip 3 is positioned by a plurality of tensioned shoe-straps 4 and 5 and over which it is 15 intermittently advanced by a plurality of claws 6, The shoe-straps 4 and 5 are rigidly fastened to a bracket 8 pivotally supported on a stud 9 projecting from the main plate 2 of the machine,

and they are held in tension by a plurality of fiat springs ll fastened, at one end, to the straps and, at the other end, to a finger l2 riveted to the strap-supporting bracket 8.

A knurled knob l3, pinned to a shaft i4 that is slidably supported in a sleeve I5 riveted to the 25 bracket 8, is provided for moving the shoe straps 4 and 5 relative to the plate I. The sleeve I5 is equipped with a cavity wherein a spring I1 is disposed. The latter engages an inwardly-extending shoulder I8 in the sleeve l5 and a shoulder I9 30 on the shaft I4 and resiliently urges the shaft l4 into engagement with a finger 2| projecting downward from a bracket 22 that supports, a projection lens 23.

The projecting end 24 of the shaft I4 coacts 35 with the inner end of the finger ii to hold the shoe-strap bracket 8 in closed position and it reacts with the outer end of the finger 2! to hold it in open position. By exerting an axial force on the knob l3, opposite in direction to the force 40 exerted by-the spring iii, the shaft i4 may be disengaged from the bracket 2|. However, when the knob is released, the shaft, if unconstrained, automatically returns to one of its engaging positions.

In the particular embodiment of my invention described herein, the intermittently-operating claws 6, in advancing the film 3, coact with the sprocket holes on one of its sides only. On the other hand, the shoe-straps 4 and 5 engage the 50 film on its margin where the sprocket holes are ordinarily situated. Since the claws must be provided with an unobstructed passage through the film, the shoe strap 5, on the side of the film on which the engagement takes place, is dis- 55 traverse the film.

The intermittent movement does not involve the present invention and need not be described in detail herein. However, briefly, it comprises a peripheral cam (not shown) which cooperates with a cam-follower (not shown) to motivate a rod II to which the claws I are secured. The rod ll traverses a pivotally supported sleeve I2 and asthecamisrotatedandcooperateswiththe cam-followers the rod pivots and slides and in so moving advances the claws t to engage the film I, moves the claws downward to advance the film, retracts the claws to disengage the film and moves the claws upward in preparation tor a further advancement of the film.

The cam and cam-follower are enclosed in a casing It and the rod ll projects through an opening 31 in the casing.

The particular structure or the intermittent movement and its advantages are explained. in the parent application. It is to be noted, however, that the intermittent movement is of such structure that the ratio of film-moving to film-resting time is small and it follows the film is advanced through the film gate at a considerable velocity and with considerable acceleration. By reason of these ieatures the film gates 01' the prior art were found to be rather unsatisractory in the present instance and the film gate described herein was developed to eliminate the dimculties which. arose in utilizing the earlier gates.

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments ct my invention, I am fully tended and slotted in the region where the claws aware that many modifications thereof are possible.

My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims. 5

I claim as my invention:

1. A film gate assembly comprising a supporting plate, an aperture plate mounted on said supporting plate, a plurality of longitudinally tensioned shoe straps, a supporting bracket for said shoe straps pivotally mounted on said supporting plate adjacent to said aperture plate, a stud mounted on said bracket ior manually pivoting said bracket and a block mounted on said supporting plate in proximity of said aperture plate, said block to engage said stud on one side to maintain said tensioned shoes in engagement with said aperture plate and to engage said stud on the opposite side to maintain said shoes out of engagement with said aperture plate.

2. A film gate assembly comprising a supporting plate, an aperture plate mounted on said supporting plate, a plurality oi shoes to exert a pressure on a film disposed on said aperture plate, a supporting bracket for said shoes pivotally 5 mounted on said supporting plate, a stud mounted in said bracket for manually pivoting said bracket and a block mounted on said supporting plate in the proximity of said aperture plate, said block to engage said stud on one side to maintain said shoes in engagement with said aperture plate and to engage said stud on the opposite side to maintain said shoes out of engagement with said aperture plate.

CLINTON R. HANNA. g5 

